Nigeria starts commercial oil drilling in north

President Muhammadu Buhari has officially kicked off the historic drilling of crude oil in Nigeria’s north-east on Tuesday, supervising the first oil extraction in commercial quantities in Bauchi and Gombe states.

"The successful discovery of the Kolmani oil and gas field has finally broken the jinx record by the confirmation of huge commercial deposits of hydrocarbons in Kolmani River fields," the president told an elated gathering of oil company officials and community leaders.

The Kolmani oil wells are expected to have an estimated one billion barrels of crude oil reserve, a development that could make Nigeria earn nearly $73bn (£61bn) over a period of 10 years.

Officials have put Nigerian’s crude oil reserves at 37 billion barrels. With an additional one billion barrels and a likelihood of some gas reserves from the Kolmani fields, the country expects to see a boost in its oil and gas production.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Image: BBC